Modular fitted-kitchen furniture assembly with improved structure

ABSTRACT

The kitchen furniture assembly is made in the form of a rigid self-bearing framework ( 4 ) featuring two side upright members ( 5 ) with interconnecting cross-members and support brackets ( 8, 9 ), on which modular floor-mount cabinets ( 1 ) and modular wall-mount cabinets ( 2 ) are capable of resting, respectively, in their installed position.

[0001] The present invention refers to modular fitted-kitchen furniture, ie. furniture that is obtained through appropriate assembly of modular cabinets.

[0002] Modular fitted-kitchen furniture is largely known to mainly comprise modular standing or floor-mount cabinets and modular wall-mount cabinets, all of which may be intended for plain storage utilization or may be fitted so as to accommodate properly designed household appliances therein.

[0003] Floor-mount cabinets may be secured to similar units to form a side-by-side arrangement, are completed by the installation of at least an upper worktop thereupon, and are installed so as to rest on the floor, usually by means of suitable support feet, or similar resting means, that are an integral part of the structure of the floor-mount cabinets themselves. In other words, each. floor-mount cabinet must be normally made so as to include its own resting feet.

[0004] In any case, the wall-mount cabinets are usually hung on, ie. attached to the kitchen walls in a cantilever arrangement, in which they are duly aligned with the floor-mount cabinets therebelow through a notoriously critical and complex operation that must generally be carried out by relatively skilled personnel with the use of adequate too

[0005] It is therefore is a purpose of the present invention to provide a modular fitted-kitchen furniture piece having a simple and rational structure, adapted to simplify the fabrication, handling and assembly of the various elements, ie. cabinets thereof.

[0006] According to the present invention, such an aim is reached in a modular fitted-kitchen furniture piece having an improved structure embodying the features as recited in the appended claims.

[0007] Features and advantages of the present invention will anyway be more clearly and readily understood from the description that is given below by way of non-limiting example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0008]FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective exploded view of an embodiment of the present invention; and

[0009]FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of a different embodiment of the present invention, in which some details are shown with a dashed line for reasons of greater clarity.

[0010] With particular reference to FIG. 1, the modular fitted-kitchen furniture piece, in the most elementary embodiment thereof, is mainly formed by a modular floor-mount cabinet 1, comprising a therewith associated worktop 3, as well as a modular wall-mount cabinet 2 and a rigid self-bearing framework 4.

[0011] In accordance with the particular requirements, the modular cabinets 1 and 2 may be either intended for mere containment, ie. storage use or may be variously fitted with functional elements in a per se known manner.

[0012] As his will be better explained further on in this description, the self-bearing framework 4 is made of metal, with two side upright members 5 being similarly or symmetrically shape and connected with each other by at 1 a cross-member.

[0013] In a preferred manner, the upright members 5 comprise a substantially vertical upper portion 6, from which respective floor-resting feet 7 branch off downwards.

[0014] In the herein described example of a preferred embodiment, the floor-resting feet 7 of the side upright members are connected to each other in pairs by respective cross-members 8 flanking each other, which actually constitute respective support means on which the floor-mount cabinet assembly 1, 3 is then adapted to rest, so that it does not need to be made with a structure that comprises own resting feet. In this connection, it should be noticed that, before being mounted on the framework 4, the floor-mount cabinet 1 is advantageously compact, ie. featuring a reduced overall size, for a much easier, convenient handling and storage.

[0015] In the upper portion 6 thereof, the side upright members 5 further comprise respective brackets 9 that protrude transversally from the upright members themselves and constitute respective support means on which the wall-mount cabinet is adapted to rest, so that it does not need to be secured to the wall, with the resulting substantial advantages of a drastic simplification of the installation thereof, which in fact can be most advantageously carried out even by unskilled personnel in quite short a time.

[0016] As an alternative thereto, the brackets 9 may be replaced by a corresponding cross-member connecting the upright members 5 with each other, in the same way as the lower cross-members 8.

[0017] In any case, the upright members 5 extend in a central position of substantial barycentric, ie. centre-of-mass balance with respect to the modular cabinets 1, 3 and 2, in such a manner as to promote the equilibrium and, therefore, the stability of the whole modular furniture assembly.

[0018] Preferably, the solidity of the framework 4 is increased by the provision of at least a further cross member 10 that connects the upright members 5 to each other at the top portion thereof, as well as a similar cross-member 11 that defines the position of the upper face of the wall-mount cabinet 2.

[0019] Between the upright members 5 there can further extend a substantially U-shaped bar 12 which protrudes backwards from the framework 4 in such a manner as to be able to be used as a support for kitchen implements.

[0020] Quite obviously, the modular cabinets 1 and 2 can be most easily secured laterally to the upright members 5 by means of screws (not shown) or similar fasteners, thereby contributing also to the robustness of the whole modular furniture assembly.

[0021] Further to the above cited advantages, it should also be noticed that, on an industrial scale, a plurality of frameworks 4 can be advantageously manufactured in an extremely rational manner, with the use of similar or symmetrical component parts (ie. the upright members 5) connected to each other by cross-members 8, IO, 1 that can each time be sized to a length that corresponds to the actual width of the modular cabinets 1, 3 and 2 to be assembled.

[0022] With reference to FIG. 2, in particular, if the above cited modular cabinets 1, 3 and 2 have a relatively large width, or if several modular cabinets have to be assembled and fastened to each other in a side-by-side arrangement in a per se known manner, the self-bearing framework 4 comprises, between the side upright members 5, at least an intermediate upright member 13 extending in the rear so as to avoid hindering a convenient positioning of the floor-mount cabinet 1, 3.

[0023] The intermediate upright members 13 is provided at its top portion with further support means 17 in the form of a bracket, on which the wall-mount cabinet is able to rest in an intermediate position.

[0024] Preferably, from such an intermediate upright member 13 there protrudes frontally at least a stiffening bar 14 connected to the cross-members 8 and provided with a downward extension 15 that, similarly to the lower portion 16 of the same intermediate upright member, forms a further support or resting foot that improves the solidity and stability of the self-bearing framework 4 and, as a result, the entire modular kitchen furniture assembly.

[0025] It will be readily appreciated that the above described modular fitted-kitchen furniture assembly may be subject to a number of modifications without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0026] So, for example, the cross-member 8 and/or the brackets 9 can support modular cabinets 1, 2 provided in the form of a simple shelf or worktop, and between the upright members 5 there can be provided, for instance at an intermediate height, the surface of a kitchen table. In this case, of course, the resulting furniture assembly will allow for installation in a position at a distance from the walls of the kitchen. 

1. Modular fitted-kitchen furniture assembly comprising at least a modular [floor-mount] lower cabinet, adapted to rest on the floor by means of support feet or similar means, and at least a modular [wall-mount] upper cabinet, characterized in that said support feet (7) are part of a rigid self-bearing framework (4) provided with at least two side upright members (5) extending in a position of a substantial centre-of-mass balance with respect to said modular cabinets (1-3), said side upright members (5) comprising first and second support means (8, 9) on which said modular [floor-mount] lower cabinet (1) and said modular [wall-mount] upper cabinet (2) are capable of resting, respectively, in their installed position.
 2. Modular fitted-kitchen furniture assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that said first and/or said second support means are formed by at least a respective cross-member (8; 9) connecting said side upright members (5) of the framework (4) with each other.
 3. Modular fitted-kitchen furniture assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that said first support means comprise at least a cross-member (8) connecting the side upright members (5) of the framework (4) with each other, in which said second support means comprise respective brackets (9) that protrude transversally from the same upright members.
 4. Modular fitted-kitchen furniture assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that said side upright members (5) are substantially identical or symmetrical to each other in their shape and extend, in [a] said position of a substantial centre-of-mass balance with respect to said modular cabinets (1-3), with a substantially vertical upper portion (6) from which said support feet (7) diverge downwards.
 5. Modular fitted-kitchen furniture assembly according to claim 4, characterized in that the support feet (7) of the side upright members (5) are connected with each other by respective cross-members (8) that constitute said first support means on which said modular [floor-mount] lower cabinet (1) is capable of resting.
 6. Modular fitted-kitchen furniture assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that said side upright members (5) are connected with each other by at least a cross-member (11) adapted to define the position of an upper face of the modular [wall-mount] upper cabinet (2).
 7. Modular fitted-kitchen furniture assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that the self-bearing framework (4) comprises, between said side upright members (5), at least an intermediate upright member (13) extending on the rear thereof and provided on top with further support means (17) on which said modular [wall-mount] upper cabinet (2) is capable of resting in its installed position.
 8. Modular fitted-kitchen furniture assembly according to claims 5 and 7, characterized in that from said intermediate upright member (13) there protrudes frontally at least a stiffening bar (14) that connects said cross-members (8).
 9. Modular fitted-kitchen furniture assembly according to claim 8, characterized in that the lower portion (16) of the intermediate upright member (13) and a downward extension (15) of said stiffening bar (14) form further support feet of the self-bearing framework (4). respect to said modular cabinets (1-3), with a substantially vertical upper portion (6) from which said support feet (7) diverge downwards.
 5. (Amended) Modular fitted-kitchen furniture assembly according to claim 4, characterized in that the support feet (7) of the side upright members (5) are connected with each other by respective cross-members (8) that constitute said first support means on which said modular lower cabinet (1) is capable of resting.
 6. (Amended) Modular fitted-kitchen furniture assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that said side upright members (5) are connected with each other by at least a cross-member (11) adapted to define the position of an upper face of the modular upper cabinet (2).
 7. (Amended) Modular fitted-kitchen furniture assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that the self-bearing framework (4) comprises, between said side upright members (5), at least an intermediate upright member (13) extending on the rear thereof and provided on top with further support means (17) on which said modular upper cabinet (2) is capable of resting in its installed position.
 8. (Amended) Modular fitted-kitchen furniture assembly according to claim 7, characterized in that from said intermediate upright member (13) there protrudes frontally at least a stiffening bar (14) that connects said cross-members (8). 